Debbie Bliss Cabled Raglan Sweater Knitting Pattern

Debbie Bliss Cabled Raglan Sweater

What Is Being Made

The Debbie Bliss Cabled Raglan Sweater is a sophisticated knitted pullover featuring prominent cable detailing worked in a classic raglan construction. This advanced-level garment is designed to fit chest measurements ranging from 77–142cm (30–56 inches), with finished chest measurements from 130–190cm (51¼–75 inches). The sweater is worked in a single neutral colorway, Cream 01, using British Wool Aran yarn. The design offers multiple size options to accommodate various body measurements, with sleeve seams measuring 44cm (17¼ inches) across all sizes and length to back neck ranging from 64–74cm (25¼–29¼ inches) depending on the chosen size.

Techniques Used

This pattern employs several advanced knitting techniques that require intermediate to advanced skill levels. The sweater is worked flat on straight needles rather than in the round, meaning pieces are constructed as separate flat panels that are later joined together. The garment uses a seamed construction, with pieces sewn together upon completion to create the finished sweater. Cable work is central to the design, utilizing various cable crossing techniques to create textured, dimensional patterns throughout the garment.

The pattern includes multiple cable crossing abbreviations that demonstrate the complexity of the stitch work. C6B and C6F represent six-stitch cables crossed at the back and front respectively, created by slipping three stitches onto a cable needle, knitting the next three stitches, then knitting the held stitches. Crossed cable variations such as Cr6B and Cr6F combine knit and purl stitches to create textured cable effects. Additional twisted stitches, T3R and T3L, provide further textural variation by twisting stitches in different directions. The cable panel itself measures 18cm (7 inches) across 45 stitches, serving as a focal point of the design.

Stitches Used

The Debbie Bliss Cabled Raglan Sweater incorporates a variety of fundamental and decorative stitches. Knit and purl stitches form the foundation of the fabric, creating the base texture and structure. Mistake stitch rib is used as the primary stitch pattern, providing elasticity and a subtle textured appearance. This rib pattern is worked over a gauge of 22 stitches and 26 rows per 10cm (4-inch) square when blocked, measured using the larger needles.

Cable stitches dominate the decorative elements, with the pattern featuring multiple variations of six-stitch cables and three-stitch twisted stitches. Make one stitch (m1) increases are used to shape the garment, created by picking up the loop between stitches and knitting into the back of the loop. Slip, knit, pass slipped stitch over (skpo) decreases are employed to shape the raglan armholes and other shaping areas. Standard abbreviations such as slip stitch (sl) and together (tog) are used throughout the pattern instructions.

Materials

The Debbie Bliss Cabled Raglan Sweater is constructed using Debbie Bliss British Wool Aran yarn in the colorway Cream 01. Yarn quantities vary by size, ranging from 15 to 23 balls of 50g (1¾oz) per ball, depending on the finished chest measurement selected. The pattern specifies two pairs of knitting needles: 4mm (US 6) needles for ribbed edgings and 5mm (US 8) needles for the main fabric. A cable needle is essential for executing the cable crossing techniques throughout the sweater. The yarn should be blocked after completion to achieve the specified gauge and measurements, with the cable panel reaching its full 18cm (7-inch) width after blocking.